Navigating Global Fintech Regulations Through Strategic Regulatory Arbitrage
As fintech continues to reshape global finance, both startups and established players are learning that innovation often outpaces regulation. With no universal set of standards, this regulatory lag becomes even more pronounced. Companies expanding internationally need to navigate complex payment regulations that govern customer identification processes, data security measures, and operational authorization requirements. We define regulatory […]
Bank Regulators Outline Expectations for Crypto Custody
Three major federal bank regulatory agencies issued a joint statement warning banks about the risks associated with taking custody of cryptocurrency assets. While the statement does not impose new regulations on crypto custody, it signals a significant shift—indicating that the federal government is now fully engaged on this issue, a notable departure from the previous […]
Australia to Ban Surcharging on Card Payments
Many merchants have adopted card surcharging to reduce costs and drive customers to use alternative payment methods. However, Australian regulators consider the practice outdated. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has proposed eliminating card payment surcharges—a move the central bank estimates could save consumers roughly A$1.2 billion per year. “Australia seems to be in a […]
AI Is Turning Accounts Receivable Into a Strategic Powerhouse
For years, accounts receivable (AR) was a quiet, behind-the-scenes function in corporate finance. Necessary, sure, but not the kind of area that made headlines. But that’s starting to change—fast. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), AR is being transformed from a manual, reactive process into a proactive engine for cash […]
How ISO 20022 Will Impact the Payments Industry
The Federal Reserve has transitioned its Fedwire Funds Service to the ISO 20022 messaging standard, making the new protocol mandatory for all U.S. banks. ISO 20022 provides a single, standardized messaging framework designed to improve interoperability among financial institutions, market infrastructures, and end users. The new standard is expected to enhance payment transaction efficiency, strengthen […]
JPMorgan Chase to Charge Fintechs for Customer Data Access
Fintechs like PayPal and Block may soon have to pay for access to banking customers’ data if JPMorgan Chase proceeds with plans to impose access fees. Financial technology firms have been central in the digital banking zeitgeist, with many banks and credit unions partnering with third parties to offer services ranging from credit score monitoring […]
Embedded Finance: Bringing Payments Under a Single Umbrella
For too long, payments have been seen as a necessary evil—plagued by compliance headaches and operational friction, with little opportunity for revenue generation. Embedded finance is flipping that notion on its head, transforming payments into a strategic growth lever. Where payment solutions were once siloed, modern platforms now reconcile across product lines, powering the next […]
Wawa Moves from Private-Label to Cobranded Card
After ending its decade-long partnership with Citi, Wawa is relaunching its credit card as a cobranded offering with First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). This shift from a private-label card to a cobranded one is expected to provide greater flexibility for Wawa customers, allowing them to use the card beyond just Wawa’s convenience stores. Wawa […]
Next Up: Stores Exclusively for AI Agents?
Now that agentic AI is handling shopping on behalf of consumers, the next step may be an AI-only shopping platform. A new collaboration between Visa and startup New Gen is exploring the possibilities in that direction. New Gen has announced a platform for AI-native storefronts, enabling agentic commerce through AI-initiated transactions. In combination with Visa, […]
Fulfilling the Promise: Making Real-Time Payments a Reality
Venmo entered the mainstream sphere in 2015. At the time, there was genuine doubt that consumers would adopt a digital payment platform as their primary means of transferring money and making payments. Ten years later, Venmo hosts 92 million active users, and most people keep an average balance of more than $200 in their accounts. […]